How much do medical assistants make in Texas? At the beginning of their career, around $17.10 an hour, or $35,500 a year.
That’s a pretty substantial wage, especially when you consider the requirements.
It’s easy to become a clinical medical assistant.
Here in Texas, you’ll need only one thing to become a medical assistant: either a high school diploma or a GED.
Of course, it’s easier to find a position if you have additional certification, like NTX’s four-month medical assisting training program. A certificate will also give you access to higher wages.
Below is more on certification and other factors that determine a medical assistant’s pay. But first, I want to explain what a medical assistant does, exactly.
Clinical medical assistants are key healthcare professionals.
Think of them as the bridge between patients and doctors. The person who calls your name from the waiting room, then takes you to the exam room and takes your vitals? That’s a medical assistant.
They will also perform tasks such as:
- Taking patient histories
- Assisting physicians during examinations
- Updating electronic health records
Not all medical assistants work in doctor’s offices. You could also be employed in a hospital, outpatient care center, or dental office.
Salary depends on where you live.
Okay, we’ve covered what a medical assistant does. Now, back to the question of how much medical assistants make.
Depending on where you live, your starting salary will generally be between $35,000 and $45,000, or $17-22 an hour.
Here in Texas, the median starting wage ($35,500) is a little below the national average of about $40,000 a year.
City vs. Rural matters, too.
According to one study, “the unadjusted rural hourly wage is 10.3% less than the urban wage.”
That said, the difference varies by profession and geographic area. Generally, though, a medical assistant in Dallas will earn more than one in Mineral Wells. Other factors are at play.
Where you work affects pay.
Medical assistants in hospitals or larger healthcare systems tend to get higher wages than those in smaller private practices or outpatient clinics.
What you earn increases with experience.
Medical assistants usually see their pay increase each year they remain on the job.
Experienced medical assistants can expect to make around $43,000 a year. And if you keep progressing for a decade or so, you could make as much as $60,000 annually.
Certification increases what you earn.
Not only will certification as a clinical medical assistant (CCMA) give you a leg up during the hiring process, but it will also improve your compensation.
Clinical medical assistants with certifications earn about 10% more than their uncertified counterparts. They also have better opportunities for promotion.
CCMA certification is nationally recognized, so you can work wherever you want.
NTX Training Institute can help you become a clinical medical assistant.
It pays to become a clinical medical assistant. NTX’s accelerated training program teaches you everything you need to know to pass the CCMA certification exam in just four months.
Contact us today for more information on how you can begin your career as a medical assistant.
